Racial/Cultural Groups

Aarakocra (Space)

The bird people hail from the windy mountainous planet of Aaqa in the Orion system. Some say they originate from another dimension and that the Wind Dukes of Aaqa seek artifacts that will let them return to their home.

Arcane (Oerth and Space)

The Arcane are an ancient and mysterious race. Physically, they appear as tall (9-foot) blue humanoids. They do not appear to have separate sexes and are difficult to differentiate. The Arcane are generally aloof to other sentient races and do not communicate verbally. They can communicate via telepathy, but even this form of communication is often brief and elusive.

The Arcane exist throughout the Known Systems. They are an integral race within the interstellar system, because they are the only race with the knowledge of how to make starjammer helms. They make these helms from the rare element, dresium.

Because of their monopoly on starjammer helms, most other spacefaring races respect the neutrality of The Arcane and will avoid... (read more)

Bakshuni (Human, Oerth)

The Bakshuni descend from tribal horsemen of the central steppes of Oerth, but various waves of Bakshuni invasions have spread Bakshuni culture widely, and caused much divergence as well. Bakshuni tribes still roam the steppe, but Bakshuni cities also dot the landscape throughout the center of the continent. Because of their central location, the Bakshuni have contact with all other ethnic groups on the planet in some form or another and have mixed with all other ethnic groups as well.

Bakshuni are of a tan to dark complexion with black wavy hair and dark eyes.

Dwarves (Oerth and Space)

Originally from the Granitehome system, dwarves have spread far and wide and are considered the unequaled masters of smithy and mining. The dwarves are divided into seven clans. These clans have multiple settlements, but are connected by some sense of kinship, cultural tradition, and shared governance. Each dwarven stronghold operates independently. When necessary, clan moots are held in the local system or, for very serious matters, on Granitehome itself.

Dwarves on Oerth

Because of their skill in mining, many dwarves were drawn to Oerth by the rich dresium veins before the Twin Cataclysms. To this day, the dwarves lobby the Arcane to allow them to reunite with the Lost Ones - the dwarves who were left... (read more)

Elves (Oerth and Space)

Elves are part of a vast interstellar empire that nominally answers to the Elven Queen in the Lothlorien system. However, each Elven colony is ruled by its own Prince/Princess. Elves originally came from the Feywild many aeons ago and still maintain a connection to that realm. They are the only species to have a means of interstellar travel other than starjamming. Some elves have learned to “walk the paths” between worlds (and dimensions) and can use this to quickly move from one place to another, often guiding others with them. Relatively few elves become pathwalkers, however, so Elves also participate in starjamming with some of the most elegant craft in the Known Systems.

In the Oerthian system, the elves... (read more)

Flumph (Space)

No one knows the homeworld of the Flumphs. Their cloisters exist everywhere and they are especially attracted to psionic creatures like the puyg. They are tolerated for their wisdom and honesty. hey are also known to have a lot of information due to their observant nature. “Trust a flumph” the saying goes.

Giff (Space)

The hippo-like giff hail from the planet Atreus in the Hippotam system.

Giff are excellent mercenaries. Employers hire orcs for their ferocity and giff for their organization and technology. Gunpowder was invented by rock gnomes, but refined and developed by the Giff. Giffs organize into independent regiments. The 14th Atrean Hussars have long guarded the Rock of Bral.

Gith (Space)

The gith are separated into two subgroups of githyanki and githzerai. Both races of gith live in dimensions outside this universe but are originally from it. According to legend, the gith overthrew an ancient evil empire of illithids which held dominion over the galaxy, before splintering into two warring factions. The gith both harbor a deep hatred of the illithids to this day and the only thing that will cause them to pause in attacking one another is the presence of a mind flayer to gang up on. Arcane enclaves such as the Rock of Bral are some of the few places you can see a Githyanki and Githzerai pass each other on the street without... (read more)

Gnolls (Oerth)

The origin of the hyena-like gnolls is shrouded in mystery. They appear to be native to Oerth and are so savage that they are incapable of co-existence with other groups. They exist in small bands that roam the grasslands at the edges of civilization, plundering and slaughtering.

Interestingly, gnolls do not appear to have separate sexes and have no apparent means of reproduction. Rumors persist that new gnolls are created through a dark ritual sacrifice that turns a hyena into a gnoll. Some rumors even suggest that this ritual is of ancient origin and may explain the origin of the first gnolls.

Gnomes (Oerth and Space)

Originally from the Feywild, gnomes followed the Elves into this dimension. They exist in small unconnected enclaves of forest gnomes, rock gnomes, and deep gnomes. Rock gnomes are known as some of the greatest engineers and inventors in the Known Systems, but are also infamously unreliable.

Gnomes on Oerth

Forest gnomes exist on Oerth but are extremely rare and reclusive. They often live in deep and inaccessible terrain and only interact regularly with elves, whom they consider to be “cousins” based on a belief in Feywild origins. Few humans will have ever seen a gnome, although they will have heard of them. Humans generally react with delight at the sight of a gnome because they are... (read more)

Goblinoids (Space)

Goblinoids are comprised of three related races of goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears who all originate from the same system of Gublonia. While the races differ somewhat in attitudes, they are all generally warlike and territorial. At various times in the history of the Known Systems, goblinoid armadas have threatened numerous other star systems and smaller bands of goblinoid raiders are always a pest to interstellar travel.

Currently, the goblinoids have been largely unified into the Imperium of Steel, a vast empire run by a council of warlords. In the past, the Imperium has gotten into conflicts with other groups. The most notable episode is the brief but vicious Steel and Roses War against the elves about... (read more)

Goliath (Space)

The hulking goliaths hail from Jordenheim, a planet known for producing other giant humanoid creatures such as ogres. The goliaths exist in tribal societies and have been hardened physically, mentally, and culturally by their challenging existence. They rarely take an interest in space travel, and so it is unusual to see a goliath outside of Jordenheim.

Guldorians (Human, Oerth)

Originally, from the cold northwest regions, these hardy warriors swarmed south many centuries ago, conquering and mixing with many of the Keltic tribes and populations and even moving east into traditional Bakshuni strongholds. In the far north, the Guldorian natives are still barbarians at heart, but the southern nations have become a civilized melange of Kelt and Guldorian, although the Guldorians tend to dominate at the more elite level in most countries.

Guldorians are typically of a fair complexion.

Illithids (Space)

The illithids, or mind-flayers, are believed to be one of the oldest civilizations of the Known Systems, but also one of the most wicked. Preferring the taste of humanoid brain to all other things, the illithids at one point in ancient history enslaved most of the other races of the Known Systems, treating them both as slaves and brain cattle. This galactic empire was broken by a rebellion led by the gith.

Today, the illithids live in hiding in scattered colonies throughout the Known Systems. Given their already poor standing among other races, the illithids have no hesitation about using lifejammer helms and are among the Banned Races.

Kelts (Human, Oerth)

Keltic tribes and nations once dominated the west although these tribes were only loosely tied together by similar language, religion, and cultural traditions. There are now few purely Keltic nations except in the far west, as most of the nations are now a mix of Keltic and Guldorian heritage. The Kelts more than in any other ethnic group maintained relations with the elves. Although Kelts at times war with the wood elves, they also borrow much from their culture and developed a druidic religion based on their understanding of elvish traditions.

Kelts tend to be swarthier than Guldorians but still fairer than most other ethnic groups, and red hair is not uncommon.

Kenku (Space)

The raven-like Kenku are a refugee race. Cursed to lose their homeworld and their speech for some ancient unknown wrong, they wander in the dark places of the world.

Lizardfolk (Saurus)

The lizardfolk of Saurus live in small tribes throughout Saurus, where they have learned to survive and thrive in a harsh and unforgiving environment.

The lizardfolk seem to be generally uninterested in space travel. They have contact with the Zami colonies on Saurus and even occasionally trade with them, but seem to not understand or not care about the larger universe of which they are a part.

Mi-Go (Space)

The Mi-Go are a strange and mysterious race from the small dwarf planet of Yuggoth in the Oerth system. They keep to themselves and are hostile of intruders, so little is known about them. They appear to be partially fungal in nature, capable of extruding spores when threatened. They also have a carapace much like that of a crab. They are the only humanoid species known to be able to endure unprotected exposure to space.

Legends speak of the Mi-Go being the foot soldiers of an ancient evil that once threatened Oerth in what is known as the Elder War. Nowadays, they are largely left on their own.

Minotaurs (Space)

Minotaurs are a large bull-headed humanoid from the planet Xalwani. Most minotaurs live in a migrating, tribal social system that wanders and grazes on the great plains of that planet. However, the greatest honor for any minotaur is to be selected as a guardian to a puyg who also live on Xalwani. Guardians are bonded for life in a solemn ceremony. These guardians have great say in minotaur matters, but are often off-planet with their puyg companion on assignment.

Minotaurs encountered outside of Xalwani are infamous for being non-conversational and standoff-ish with non-puygs, considering everyone to be a potential threat to their charge.

Modrons (Space)

The modrons were clearly created but no one knows their creator. They all serve the Primus who lives in an asteroid belt in the uninhabited Alpha Centauri system. Modrons are sent to other systems to survey them.

Neogi (Space)

The half-eel/half-spider-like neogi live in cruel hierarchical societies. They use their powers of mind control to enslave and control other creatures. They have a special affinity for keeping umber hulk slaves.

The neogi are the only race with the knowledge of how to make lifejammer helms which they sell on the black market. This places them among the Banned Races - a fact which bothers them very little.

Ogres (Space)

Ogres come from the frigid mountainous planet of Jordenheim. They are too stupid for interstellar travel but are often recruited by other races to provide added muscle, serve as bodyguards, or to star in pit fights. Some slavers intentionally breed them to create ogrillions who are considered exemplary gladiators.

Orcs (Oerth and Space)

Legend claims that Orcs are the artificial creation of the ancient Thumani Republic. As fewer and fewer individuals were available for military service, the Magi turned to artificial solutions to populate their armies. They developed a technique for creating a fierce and powerful humanoid using arcane rituals. They then bred these “Orcs” naturally to produce their new legions. The orcs proved to be ferocious, but often unruly combatants. Some legends even say that an Orcish rebellion was the catalyst for the conflict that led to the Twin Cataclysms.

The orcs who survived the Twin Cataclysms in space have organized themselves into a variety of mercenary companies that are in high demand throughout the Known Systems. Most... (read more)

The Pale (Human, Space)

The Pale are the descendants of the Thumani Republic who survived the twin cataclysms in space. They live on a cold moon of Bazelpup where they are governed by a theocracy. They worship their leader, the God-Empress who they believe freed them from the bondage of the yuan-ti. The God-Empress is believed to be reincarnated into a new body when she dies and thus has lived many lifetimes.

The God-Empress delegates authority to a bureaucratic priesthood that actually governs the population which is structured into a set of castes (the priesthood, warrior, scholar castes make up the high castes, and the remaining low castes are governed by different kinds of work). The society is autocratic, xenophobic, and... (read more)

Puyg (Space)

A small and fragile species, puygs are the most powerful telepaths in the Known Systems. Two puygs can communicate with each other over any physical distance in this universe.

The Puygs are great seekers of knowledge and have built the Great Library on their home system of Xalwani. They use their telepathic abilities to offer communication and information services, with outposts in most major metropolitan centers.

The puygs co-evolved with the bull-headed minotaurs on their home planet of Xalwani. When it reaches adulthood, each puyg is bonded to a minotaur guardian for life.

Quaggoth (Space)

The quaggoth homeworld was destroyed by a supernova several generations ago. The quaggoth were originally a fairly peaceful arboreal species, but the homeless survivors of their homeworld’s destruction have had to turn to whatever means necessary to survive. They often hire themselves as cheap and reliable muscle to any operation that will have them and many have turned to piracy as well.

Quaggoths are psionically sensitive and this has proven to make them vulnerable to the illithids who often enslave them for use as guards and cheap labor.

Ratfolk (Space)

Ratfolk hail from the swampy world of Zennbar. Due to overpopulation and chaotic rule, many are eager to leave. They are generally treated like pests wherever they go and are often forced into illicit activities.

Tabaxi (Space)

Tabaxi are a cat-like people who hail from the Felinous system. It is believed that all cat-like creatures may have originated from that system. The Tabaxi travel far and wide in small bands throughout the Known Systems. They are known as excellent merchants who have a way of finding the rarest of items. Their minstrels are also held in high regard.

Thri-Kreen (Space)

Thri-kreen occupy the closest system to Oerth, the Thi-Xa-Sha system which they defend vigorously. They are a strange race with limited emotional ability and a language that others cannot speak. They rely on their psionic leaders to communicate telepathy. most other races view them with suspicion, although they generally play by the rules and are not aggressive outside of their home system.

Tomani (Human, Oerth)

The Tomani are the descendants of the Thumani Republic. Most Tomani live in a variety of independent city states along the western coasts of the Myosian Sea. These city-states differ in government from tyrannies to democracies but are known for their fierce independence and rivalry with other city-states. Because of ancient history and the trade networks of the Tomani, the Tomani language is considered the lingua franca across Oerth and is often just referred to as Common.

Tomani have skin that ranges from fair to bronzed and typically have dark hair and eyes.

Tortles (Space)

Tortles hail from the distant world of Apolophon but travel greatly in small bands of a few ships, settling for a few years in a place before moving on. They prefer nature and so are relatively rare in space, but a few bands are always present in transit.

Triton (Space)

Tritons hail from the water world of Aquarius where they rule the world beneath the waves. Although they can breathe air as easily as water, they tend to be less comfortable out of water and so are less commonly encountered outside of their home world than other races.

Xin (Human, Oerth)

The Xin inhabit the eastern half of the main continent of Oerth. Unlike most of the other ethnic groups on Oerth, most Xin are governed by a single grand nation of the same name. This empire actually existed alongside the ancient Thumani Republic and Zwambian Hegemony, although it was much smaller and effectively a vassal state. It is the only civilization to have survived the Twin Cataclysms. In the jungles to the south and the steppes to the east, some Xinnish populations live outside the yoke of the Xin Empire.

Xin are of a bronze complexion with black hair and dark eyes.

Yuan-Ti (Space)

The yuan-ti, the dreaded serpentfolk, are a mysterious and secretive race. They avoid other races and like to instead exert control by subterfuge and persuasion. They have been known to infiltrate the ranks of other states and nations in order to secretly control them.

The yuan-ti are among the Banned Races, but are not commonly seen in space, suggesting that they possibly have an alternative means of transportation or that yuan-ti enclaves are highly insular.

Yuan-ti enclaves are known to exist on Saurus. According to some legends, Yuan-ti infiltrated the ancient Thumani Republic and were at least partially responsible for the Twin Cataclysms. The Theocracy of the Pale harbors great resentment toward the yuan-ti and it... (read more)

Zambian (Human, Oerth)

Zambian tribes and nations dominate the Southeastern portion of Oerth. These groups are the descendants of the Zwambian Hegemony. On the eastern shores of the Myosian Sea, Zambians have rebuilt a powerful kingdom called Kush, which is ruled by the Swan King. To the north, Zwambian/Bakshuni mixed populations are common along the Dresium Road.

Zambians are of a very dark complexion with kinky dark hair.

Zami (Human, Space)

The Zami are the descendants of the ancient Zwambians who survived the Twin Cataclysms in space. They have various colonies throughout the Oerthian system, but principally in the asteroid belt and on Saurus. They have only a loosely-organized de-centralized government, in a somewhat feudal style. They are generally considered the dominant power on the Oerthian system, but because of their decentralization, they exercise little restraint on other groups. Zami society is heavily focused on trade and mercantilism.

The Zami are generally dark-skinned with dark kinky hair, much like their Zambian relatives. However, because the Zwambian Hegemony ruled over a diverse group of people, there is more diversity of appearance among the Zami... (read more)